In food and beverage manufacturing, designing a new process or piece of equipment can often seem like themost challenging part of a design-build(D/B) project. Innovation, creativity andtechnical expertise all have to cometogether in just the right way to make anefficient, functional design. However, mostproject owners are not aware that theconstruction phase of a project typicallycontains the greatest potential for risk,due to the multitude and complexity ofmoving parts involved. The constructionphase requires obtaining all necessaryresources, complying with various codesand regulations and communicatingwith all the parties involved. Each of thestakeholders may have different prioritiesand interests, and many significant factorscannot be foreseen at the beginning of thisphase; each of these components opensup opportunities for risk. Working with anengineer that can provide design-buildservices, as well as site managementand construction oversight services,minimizes these risks and keeps projectson schedule.

Sticking to a Schedule

The construction phase provides plentyof opportunity for delays due to unforeseenchallenges or a lack of awareness of howlong certain tasks will take. However,during the design process, a project’sD/B engineer becomes aware of therequirements responsible for determiningthe schedule, as well as the specificdeadlines associated with the start-up ofa new process or new piece of equipment,and an installation schedule is developedduring this phase based on theserequirements. Additionally, their familiaritywith the design means they know the(mechanical, electrical, utilities) and theycan develop a schedule of shutdowns forthe tie-ins that will minimize the impact onoperations.

Having a clear overall understanding of
the project, D/B engineers will also better
understand what the project’s priorities are
and can quickly adjust the schedule during
the construction phase accordingly should
outside complications, such as weather,
existing equipment failures or production
schedule changes, cause delays. This also
makes it easier to work around special
installation requirements like multiple
installation windows or rotating installation
shifts, as the D/B engineer will be aware
of these circumstances from the beginning
of the project rather than at the time of
receiving the bid. In fact, this also makes
it possible for the design to be tailored
specifically for these circumstances.

With the D/B engineer performing
construction oversight, requests for
information and change orders can also
be responded to more quickly than in
standard design-bid-build projects. This
is because the time it would take for the
owner or general contractor to reach out
to the design firm and wait for a response
is eliminated. Instead, the design firm is
onsite and engaged in the day-to-day
installation work, which minimizes the
time to answer questions. Furthermore,
the D/B oversight engineer becomes the
start-up coordinator in these types of
projects, reducing the transition time from
the general contractor’s installation portion
of the project to start-up.

Working Within the Budget

One major concern when hiring a
firm for construction management is
the possibility for exceeding the budget
due to miscellaneous expenses. When
the project owner is accountable for any
additional costs, the risk involved in going
over budget is considerable. In contrast,
a D/B engineering firm generally has a
greater motivation to keep change orders
and additional construction costs to a
minimum. Of course, all engineering firms
want to do what is best and most cost-

A clear overall understanding of the project allows D/B engineers to better understand
the project’s priorities, allowing them to adjust the schedule accordingly should outside
complications cause delays.